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Motorsport

The New Dacia Spring Is A Cheap And Funky EV

Renault has discovered methods to promote low cost EVs for a revenue. Its low-cost Romanian model Dacia has loved nice success with the Spring since its launch in 2022. More than 140,000 models have been offered so far. For 2024, the refreshingly primary electrical hatchback is getting a considerable makeover.

Don’t name it a next-generation mannequin because it’s extra alongside the traces of a heavy facelift, with right-hand drive lastly accessible. The exterior revisions carry the 2024 Spring according to Dacia’s newest design language seen on the new Duster SUV. There’s an excellent quantity of plastic physique cladding and sq. wheel arches to make this straightforward EV look extra rugged. The exterior tweaks actually make Europe’s least expensive EV extra fashionable in comparison with the unique model which regarded prefer it was caught within the Nineties (at finest).

There are substantial modifications inside the place the 2024 Dacia Spring has an all-new dashboard. Along with a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a ten.0-inch touchscreen, the cabin now has redesigned local weather controls and a brand new search for the air vents. The up to date steering wheel has the brand new DC company emblem, and extra importantly, it could possibly now be adjusted in peak. We additionally discover a brand new gear selector together with a smartphone holder behind it.

Dacia Spring (2024)

For such a small automobile, it is fairly sensible. The entrance trunk can swallow 35 liters (1.23 cubic toes) whereas the rear cargo space has a quantity of 308 liters (six greater than earlier than) or practically 11 cubic toes. Fold the rear bench and the bags capability grows to 1,004 liters (35.5 cubic toes). Several storage compartments all through the cabin provide an additional 33 liters (1.16 cubic toes).

The packaging is respectable when you think about the Spring is barely 3,701 millimeters (145.7 inches) lengthy, 1,767 millimeters (69.5 inches) broad, 1,519 millimeters (59.8 inches) tall, and has a wheelbase of 2423 millimeters (95.4 inches). Depending on the trim degree, the wheels measure both 15 or 16 inches. These Safari Beige and Brick Red colours are debuting with the facelift.

The base Spring has solely 45 horsepower, however you may step as much as a stronger electrical motor with a mighty 65 hp. The latter helps the cheerful EV hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in lower than 14 seconds. Stick to the entry-level motor and the job is finished in underneath 20 seconds. The small 26.8-kWh battery is sweet for over 137 miles (220 kilometers) of vary and takes 45 minutes to cost from 20 to 80 p.c by way of a 30-kW DC charger. From a 7-kilowatt AC charger, you will have to attend practically 11 hours for the battery to go from 20 to 100%. It now helps bidirectional charging, so it could possibly energy your toaster or different electrical home equipment.

The vary is much from spectacular, however Dacia says it is greater than sufficient for the standard Spring person. After analyzing knowledge collected from the infotainment system of the pre-facelift mannequin, the Renault-owned marque discovered that house owners drive their vehicles for about 23 miles (37 kilometers) per day. About 90 p.c of all journeys are shorter than 43 miles (70 kilometers). Data additionally confirmed the Spring is pushed at a mean velocity of 23 mph (37 km/h) and that 75 p.c of householders cost the vehicles at dwelling.

Dacia Spring (2024)
Dacia Spring (2024)

Dacia is proud to say the Spring stays the one EV accessible in Europe that weighs underneath 1,000 kilograms (2,204 kilos). Although the brand new model has extra normal gear and higher driver help tech to satisfy European Union rules, it has placed on simply six kilograms (13 kilos). The totally loaded model within the high trim nonetheless weighs simply 984 kilograms (2,169 kilos).

The Spring will not set your pulse racing however those that need no-frills transportation at a low value with zero emissions will admire this automobile. It’s best for the city jungle and an ideal software for small outlets that ship items. Pricing for the brand new model has not been disclosed however the outdated one was round €20,000 in its home market Romania, earlier than incentives.

It’s value noting the mannequin is inbuilt China and has a Renault model often known as the City Okay-ZE. The two EVs hint their roots to the Renault Kwid launched again in 2015 with combustion engines.

News

Is Bajaj Working On A New Electric Scooter Called The Vector?

Ever since partnering up with KTM in 2007, Bajaj has loved notable success within the world market with KTM’s 390 and Husqvarna’s 401 collection. Since then, the Indian firm has been entrusted with creating extra fashions, together with an electrical scooter platform beneath the Husqvarna model referred to as the Vektorr.

The idea Husky Vektorr first hit the scene manner again in 2021, however since then, has just about fallen off the radar. That being mentioned, a current improvement may breathe new life into this electrical scooter. Our mates over at Indian bike web site BikeWale managed to uncover a trademark submitting from Bajaj bearing the “Vector” identify. Indeed, after I ran a search on India’s IP Online service, a trademark software for “Bajaj Vector” appeared, beneath Class 12 for Automobiles, Land Vehicles, Motorcycles, and Electric Vehicles.

Is Bajaj Working On A New Electric Scooter Called The Vector?

According to the submitting, the trademark was utilized for on August 16, 2023 – pretty current within the grand scheme of issues. So this begs the query: what precisely is the Bajaj Vector? Well, a number of sources appear to counsel that it’s certainly a brand new electrical scooter. However, whether or not or not it’s the Husqvarna Vektorr, albeit renamed beneath Bajaj branding, stays a thriller.

At the second, Bajaj already has an electrical scooter referred to as the Chetak, and has been promoting it for fairly a while now. The launch of a extra premium electrical scooter is not going to solely add to the rising number of electrical two-wheelers available on the market, but additionally elevate Bajaj’s standing as a pioneer within the EV two-wheeler market. You may argue that the producer has been left behind by newer gamers within the recreation resembling Ather and Ola Electric, and the launch of a premium electrical scooter may definitely change that.

Husqvarna Vektorr Concept - Left Side

There’s been a rising demand for light-weight electrical bikes and scooters throughout Asia and Europe, and plenty of mainstream producers have been capitalizing on this lately. As such, there’s no cause to doubt that Bajaj is certainly engaged on a brand new electrical scooter. In reality, a prototype of a brand new e-scooter had been noticed testing on a number of events prior to now. With all that being mentioned, there’s additionally a risk that Bajaj is just safeguarding the Vector identify for future use, and has no intentions of rolling out a brand new mannequin beneath that identify anytime quickly. In that case, your guess is pretty much as good as mine.

Motorsport

Watch This 1000-HP Audi RS7 Warp Spacetime In 200-MPH Autobahn Run

We have seen many Autobahn videos from AutoTopNL, but this one is exceptional for a different reason. While the Audi RS7’s top speed of 200 mph is impressive, it’s the acceleration that is mind-blowing. This RS7 has been heavily modified with 1,040 horsepower by Netherlands-based shop Brex Tuning. An MMS Power Division kit, including new turbos, intercoolers, and an upgraded fuel system, has been installed to achieve this power. The acceleration is so rapid that it goes from 47 mph to 148 mph in just eight seconds.

The second acceleration run from a dead stop claims a 0-62 mph time of 2.8 seconds, reaching 196 mph in just 22.6 seconds. The video claims that the car can reach a top speed of 217 mph. The modded RS7 can be seen reaching the 200-mph barrier midway through the video, ultimately aiming for a top speed of 217 mph.

If you’re not up for driving a 1,000-hp Audi, the stock RS7 is no slouch either. It comes with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 offering 621 hp in Performance trim, with a 0-60 mph time of around 3.0 seconds.

News

European Motorcycle Market Enjoys Strong Growth In 2023

In the first nine months of 2023, the European motorcycle market experienced a significant increase in sales. According to a recent report by the European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), a total of 873,985 new motorcycles were registered in key markets in Europe from January to September 2023. This is an 11.8% increase from the same period in 2022, which had 781,839 new registrations.

Italy emerged as the strongest market for two-wheelers, with a growth of 19.4% and 271,552 new two-wheelers registered. Spain followed with a 13.4% increase and 154,019 registrations, while Germany saw a 9.6% growth with 190,490 new registrations. France and the UK also experienced an increase in registrations, with 168,118 units (8.7%) and 89,806 units (0.4%) registered respectively.

While motorcycle sales saw a strong uptick, the moped segment experienced a decline. Only 155,098 mopeds were registered in the first nine months of 2023, a 25% drop from the previous year’s 206,927 registrations. It’s important to note that the report only covers France, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Spain. Mopeds are categorized differently across regions, with some including certain e-bikes as mopeds.

ACEM’s Secretary General Antonio Perlot highlighted the sustained interest in two-wheelers for both commuting and leisure purposes. He noted that the strong growth in the European market emphasizes consumers’ continued long-term interest in powered two-wheelers. The report also suggests a positive trend in motorcycle sales following EICMA 2023, with expectations of more new models, including electric and internal combustion variants, for the 2024 model-year.

It’s essential to acknowledge that ACEM’s report does not encompass all the brands in the two-wheeler space. The report represents 18 manufacturers including BMW, Ducati, KTM, MV Agusta, Piaggio, and Triumph, as well as the Japanese big four. Notably, new players, particularly those from China, are not represented in the report, suggesting that the actual sales figures may be higher than the reported 873,985 new registrations.

Cars

Top 10 Military Light Utility Vehicles in 2023

The original Austrian Pinzgauer served for almost four decades as a highly regarded Light Utility Vehicle (LUV). However, due to declining sales, it was discontinued in 2008. In search of a worthy replacement, the Pinzgauer II was introduced. This new generation vehicle offers enhanced features such as a larger size, increased capacity, better mobility, higher payload, and improved overall performance.

A notable improvement in the Pinzgauer II is its six-wheel, 6×6 configuration, compared to the original’s four-wheel design. This enables it to carry heavier loads effortlessly, thanks to an impressive engine power increase from 87 to 194 horsepower. With a cargo capacity of 3.8 tons, the Pinzgauer II can accommodate 14 troops along with their equipment and is capable of towing trailers or artillery if required. Its elevated cab design allows it to ford waters up to a depth of 1.5 meters, and it boasts a range of 1,000 kilometers. Furthermore, the range can be doubled with an additional fuel tank, making it one of the most versatile LUVs on this list.

Despite its larger size, the Pinzgauer II can still be transported using Hercules aircraft or Chinook directly to combat zones. It serves various roles in these zones, including ambulance services, reconnaissance missions, tactical operations, and communications tasks. While it can be configured with heavy armor, the primary focus of the Pinzgauer II is utility rather than carrying defensive armaments. Nonetheless, it performs exceptionally well in terms of performance, practicality, and aesthetic appeal.

[Featured image by New Zealand Defence Force from Wellington, New Zealand via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.0]

Motorsport

Porsche CEO Camped In $7,000 Roof Tent On Top Of 911 Turbo S At Le Mans

Porsche CEO Oliver Blume decided to experience this year’s Le Mans race firsthand, but he didn’t opt for luxury accommodations. Instead, he parked his black 911 Turbo S at the Porsche Employee Camp and stayed in a rooftop tent with his wife for two nights.

The rooftop tent, introduced by Porsche less than a year ago, is an all-season accessory that can comfortably accommodate two adults. It features an integrated polyfoam mattress, two side windows with insect screens, and a skylight for ventilation and views. The tent also proudly displays Porsche branding and a mountain silhouette motif inside. It was designed, developed, and produced by Porsche’s original accessories and upgrades division, Porsche Tequipment.